20 Minutes

This story is based on true events. lt begins in Hamburg, Germany in the year 1980, where a young and ambitious man (My father) accepts a job offer on Iraqi soil during the First Persian Gulf War (1980-1988), which involved dredging the Tigris River under strict supervision of Mr. Tariq Aziz, closest advisor of Saddam Hussein. This decision changed his life for ever. The man who he works with, Mr. Richter, fought in WWII (1939-1945) along with his father. Both were pilots, decorated with the Knights Cross. Only one had the privilege to return home. Mr. Richter, coming from a lineage of wealthy businessmen, after recovering himself from the war, decides to honor his fallen friend' s last wish and care for his son in the best way he could, by giving him not only a proper education but purpose. Mr. Richter's family was extremely well connected placing his Managing Office in a prestige position around several countries, forging an extensive network. One night while discussing some details with my father, Mr. Richter becomes a call, which would initiate an avalanche of interrogatives putting them in-between ambition and sanity. Under direct order of the President of Iraq, Saddam Hussein, their precious river, Tigris, must be dredged to assure commercial growth. Hereby the Government´s official statement of such purpose was defined leaving the vital reason of such petition to be revealed during war (Shatt al-Arab waterway dispute). Despite of the political situation, the Iraqi Leader' s reputation which was often described as dictatorial and narcissistic not forgetting the religious environment, the job is accepted. After meticulously planning every detail of the project, my father would share responsibilities with Mr. Peter Grozdanov, physicist, expert in the dredging area with whom a deep friendship is built after smuggling him out of lraq, avoiding death penalty. The project is successfully finished. My father still lives.